Cholesterol of the gallbladder: causes, symptoms, treatment

Cholesterol gallbladder - the disease is quite rare. Nevertheless, many people are interested in questions about what is a similar disease? What symptoms distinguish her from other disorders of the digestive tract? How dangerous can an ailment be? This information will be useful for every reader.

What is cholesterosis?

Cholesterol gallbladder - a disease that in modern medical practice is not so often. With such an ailment, there is an accumulation in the wall of the gallbladder of one of the fat metabolism products - cholesterol. This changes the normal functioning of the body. In addition, under the influence of certain factors, the development of the inflammatory process is possible.

It is worth noting that it is not so simple to diagnose cholesterosis of gallbladder walls. In most cases, the final diagnosis is made after some instrumental procedures. Most often, young people, mostly women, suffer from the ailment.

Pathogenesis of the disease

In fact, the mechanism of the development of the disease is still being studied. Nevertheless, scientists have already managed to make some important discoveries. Normally, cholesterol and other lipid compounds are not deposited by the gallbladder wall.

Of course, wall tissues adsorb cholesterol - about a third of it enters the serous membrane of the bladder, from which it then enters the lymphatic and blood vessels, and two thirds of the lipid compounds return to the bile. But with these or other violations of lipid metabolism, cholesterol begins to accumulate in the wall - this is how the gallbladder cholesterosis develops.

The main causes of the disease

Unfortunately, the reasons for the deposition of lipids in the wall of the gallbladder have not yet been clarified. Naturally, there are many theories. Some scientists associate such a disorder with the disruption of the work of nerve endings, as a result of which the motor and evacuation function of the gallbladder changes . On the other hand, the causes include violations of normal blood flow and lymph circulation. In some cases, as a cause, these or those changes in the hormonal background.

Are there risk factors?

Despite the fact that it was not yet possible to determine exactly how cholesterosis develops in the walls of the gallbladder, physicians identify several major risk factors:

• For a start, it's worth mentioning about dyslipidemia. This condition is associated with a violation of normal lipid metabolism. In most cases, the ailment is caused by eating too much fatty foods.
• Cholesterol gallbladder is often diagnosed in patients with hypothyroidism on the background of a decrease in the number of hormones synthesized by the thyroid gland.
• Risk factors can also include diabetes mellitus.
• Some experts associate cholesterosis with abdominal obesity.
• The disease can also develop against the background of non-alcoholic obesity of the liver.
• Potentially dangerous is the so-called syndrome of excessive bacterial growth, in which a change in the quantitative composition of the intestinal microflora is observed.
• Naturally, the risk factors include diseases of the digestive tract, including cholelithiasis, gastritis, pancreatitis, intestinal lesions, etc.

Classification: the main types of disease

To date, there are several classification schemes for this disease. For example, depending on the presence of stones in the bladder, the following are distinguished:

• The stoneless form of the disease is considered the most common and is not accompanied by the formation of mineral deposits.
• In some cases, the disease is combined with cholelithiasis, in which the formation of cholesterol stones.

Depending on the features of the course of the disease, it is possible to distinguish the following varieties:

• Focal cholesterosis of the gallbladder is characterized by the formation of small foci of lipid accumulation. In some cases, the process affects not only the wall, but also the tissues of the extrahepatic ducts.
• The total form of the disease - is accompanied by a lesion of the entire bladder tissue, sometimes including extrahepatic ducts.
• Polypous cholesterosis of the gallbladder - accompanied by the formation of fat wall protrusions. It should be noted that this type of disease requires more thorough diagnosis, as it is necessary to exclude the possibility of tumor development.
• The mesh form of the disease is accompanied by a thickening of the wall. By the way, polypoid cholesterosis of the gallbladder, as a rule, develops against this particular type of ailment, therefore in this case it is appropriate to talk about a mixed type of disease.

Cholesterol of the gallbladder: symptoms

Immediately it is worth noting that in some patients the disease occurs without any symptoms and is detected by accident. Nevertheless, other patients have signs indicating cholesterosis of the gallbladder. Symptoms are nausea that occurs after taking too fatty foods, as well as aching pain in the right upper quadrant, which can also increase as a result of nutritional errors.

Some patients also note the presence of dryness and even bitterness in the mouth, which are especially strong in the morning. Possible disorders of the stool - diarrhea is replaced by protracted constipation and vice versa.

With a strong cholesterol deposition, the symptomatology resembles biliary colic - there is a sharp pain in the right hypochondrium, severe nausea, repeated vomiting, unpleasant bitterness in the mouth, excessive sweating, dizziness, weakness.

In some cases, along with cholesterosis, inflammation of the gallbladder is observed. A similar condition is accompanied by standard signs of cholecystitis. Patients complain of sudden sharp pain, diarrhea, nausea, fever, weakness.

In any case, if you have problems with digestion, it is best to consult a doctor right away. At the initial stages, the disease is much easier and faster to treat.

Modern diagnostic methods

Diagnosis of this disease is a long process, as here it is necessary to confirm the presence of cholesterosis, assess the degree of damage to the bladder and determine the present risk factors. First of all, standard tests are performed - the patient gives blood, urine and feces samples. In addition to microscopic tests, a coprogram is also carried out - a large number of lipid compounds can be detected in the stool. Obligatory is the detailed biochemical analysis of blood, which makes it possible to evaluate the work of the liver and pancreas.

On the other hand, if there is a suspicion of cholesterosis, patients are advised to undergo lipid blood spectrum studies, which provides valuable information on the presence of failures in fat metabolism.

Ultrasound is another method by which you can diagnose gallbladder cholesterosis. Polypoid form of the disease is perfectly visible during the examination. In addition, ultrasound makes it possible to assess the state of the bile duct, liver and pancreas.

Cholesterol of the gallbladder: treatment

When the first symptoms appear, it is best to see a doctor right away. Only a specialist can diagnose gallbladder cholesterosis. Treatment in this case is selected individually and includes the taking of different drugs.

Of course, first you need to eliminate the main symptoms, in order to somehow alleviate the condition of the patient. In the presence of severe pain, the patient is prescribed antispasmodic and pain medication. In addition, therapy includes the administration of cholagogue preparations or plant doses, as well as bile acids (ensures the normalization of the composition of bile).

On the other hand, it is equally important to normalize the process of digestion. To this end, patients are recommended to take enzyme preparations, as well as pyrokinetics (accelerate the passage of food through the gastrointestinal tract). In some cases, the use of anthracite - drugs that reduce the acidity of gastric juice. Naturally, it is extremely important to reduce the amount of cholesterol - for this purpose, doctors use both medication and a proper diet. Antibacterial drugs are used to prevent inflammation.

In the event that the area of the gall bladder is too large or if conservative treatment does not give the desired result, the patient is recommended an operation to completely remove the gallbladder.

The right diet is the key to a quick recovery

The correct diet is extremely important for patients with a diagnosis of gallbladder cholesterosis . The diet in this case is selected individually, but there are some generally accepted recommendations. To start, the patient is transferred to a fractional food - the food should be consumed often, but in small portions.

Naturally, the diet should exclude fatty meat and fish, as well as lard and fried foods. It is also worth limiting the amount of spices, spicy spices. The banned products include fresh pastries, ice cream, spinach, sorrel, semi-finished products, alcoholic beverages and black coffee.

The diet should consist of cereals, boiled low-fat meat and fish, vegetable soups, non-acidic vegetables and fruits (cellulose is extremely important for the normal functioning of the digestive tract). Positively on the health condition will affect vitamin therapy - patients are advised to take multivitamin complexes from time to time.

What complications is fraught with cholesterosis?

Of course, in the absence of treatment, gallbladder cholesterosis can lead to a mass of unpleasant and even dangerous consequences.

• First of all, the disease affects the condition of the gallbladder. There is a high probability of developing cholelithiasis or cholecystitis (inflammation). In addition, in some patients, a gradual accumulation of calcium in the wall of the bladder is observed.
• Cholestasis of the gallbladder (polypous form or any other kind of disease) increases the risk of early development of arteriosclerosis of the vessels.
• In some cases, disruption of the gallbladder leads to the development of the so-called malabsorption syndrome, in which the absorption of nutrients and vitamins is impaired. Against the background of this pathology, in turn, there is the appearance of anemia, hypovitaminosis, deformation of the skeleton, weight loss and gradual exhaustion of the body.

Are there effective methods of prevention?

Unfortunately, there is no medicine that can permanently protect against such a disease. As for prophylaxis, experts first of all recommend careful monitoring of nutrition. In particular, the right diet should include foods rich in fiber and exclude sharp, fatty and fried foods. Naturally, it is important to monitor the level of cholesterol.

In addition, do not forget that all diseases of the digestive system (in particular, gastritis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, enterocolitis, cholelithiasis) are subject to timely, adequate treatment. And, of course, you need to give up smoking, alcohol abuse and other addictions.